After bathing and changing into another dress, Etienne mentioned that she still had some matters to attend to. Consequently, Fernando agreed to meet her later and returned to the fountain where Etienne had earlier fallen into.
While searching for Etienne, who had disappeared from the hall, Fernando encountered Crown Prince Lehart.
“Why are you following me?”
“I’m just looking for Etienne, and it seems we have a similar purpose. Shall we move together?”
“I’d rather not…”
“What if I find her first?”
Each time Lehart responded nonchalantly, Fernando’s patience eroded bit by bit.
“Do you have any special feelings for Etienne?”
“If you’re asking if I like her, I can say no, but if you ask if I’m interested, then yes.”
Lehart didn’t falsely claim to be in love with Etienne.
“Don’t hover around Etienne with such an insincere attitude.”
“Are you saying if my feelings deepen, I can hover around as much as I like?”
While Fernando considered forcibly separating Lehart, they heard a sound.
“Water.”
At that moment, it was unclear what the sound was, but now Fernando realized it must have been Etienne falling into the fountain. However, Lehart, who was with him, hadn’t heard it.
Fernando hadn’t yet awakened his ability related to water. Frustrated, he had once thought it better to die than to remain unawakened, even considering jumping into a lake. It hadn’t been a month since that incident…
“Are you telling me this?”
Fernando asked the water as he looked at it. If the water had alerted him to Etienne’s fall, maybe he had some ability.
He dipped his hand into the water and closed his eyes. Water rippled out from his hand in a circular pattern, then suddenly changed direction and began converging towards his hand.
In this strange phenomenon, unseen by anyone else, Fernando saw a hand pushing Etienne’s back into the water. It was white and small.
“A woman, or rather, a little smaller.”
Not a child’s hand, but not an adult’s either.
Fernando opened his eyes. He had seen the hand pushing Etienne but not the face. However, this was enough.
“I’ll catch them.”
Even if it took time, he was determined.
“Don’t you know why your brother is here?”
“He just came to see the rare item, as I understand.”
While Fernando was at the fountain, Crown Prince Lehart was having a private conversation with Count Pigment. Lehart was sitting in the count’s office, in the count’s chair, while Count Pigment stood nervously in front of him.
“Your hobby is collecting unique items, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Nice hobby.”
Lehart’s comment forced Count Pigment to bow his head to hide his troubled expression. His hobby had led to repeated private meetings with the princes. But he couldn’t express his true feelings about it.
“Didn’t Ludvig want to take that golden porcelain you showed earlier?”
“Well, it’s a porcelain that chooses its owner, so I’m just keeping it. If it doesn’t choose Prince Ludvig as its owner, it’s just for decoration. I’m not sure.”
In truth, Ludvig had said he would take it, but Count Pigment couldn’t reveal that.
“Porcelain that chooses its owner? Interesting.”
Lehart leaned back and said nothing more. Count Pigment tentatively asked:
“Aren’t you interested, Your Highness?”
He was anxious, fearing a conflict if both princes wanted the item. Lehart waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s not mine to want.”
“Really?”
Aren’t you curious to own such a thing? Count Pigment asked again, to which Lehart laughed briefly.
“Actually, something else here intrigued me more than that.”
“What might that be?”
“Oh, don’t worry, it’s not something from the Count’s estate.”
Lehart quickly added, and Count Pigment secretly sighed in relief.
“Since you don’t know why your brother came here, let’s change the question. Where was the last place he visited?”
Reminded by Lehart’s inquiry, Count Pigment recalled a location reported to him earlier by his steward.
“Hans works here, right?”
“Yes, but our stablemaster Hans had to quit due to illness.”
“Ill?”
Prompted by Etienne’s query, the stablemaster bowed even lower.
“He was kicked by a horse’s hind leg while tending to them. He said he’d return once he recovered, but he hasn’t yet as he’s still unwell.”
“I see.”
Etienne, who had come looking for Hans, Lani’s father, was disappointed not to meet him.
“Do you know where Hans lives?”
“I’m not sure, unfortunately.”
“What about his son?”
“That is…”
The stablemaster, who had been responding promptly, hesitated. If he didn’t know about Hans’ son, he would have simply said so. This hesitation suggested he knew something but couldn’t speak about it.
“In truth, Hans’ son does come here occasionally, but I don’t know exactly when.”
“Why does he come?”
As Etienne continued to inquire, the stablemaster looked uncomfortable. Then, suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps approached.
Etienne saw a small figure running towards them from behind the stablemaster.
“Boy, why are you here again?”
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
